The Canadian women’s team has consistently been ranked between 12th-24th in the world. They participated in the 1976, 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games as well as the FIVB World Championship in 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 2002. They are currently ranked 24th in the world.

In 2007 they competed in 26 matches between June and December at events such as the Pan-American Cup in Mexico, the Universiade Games in Thailand and the NORCECA Continental Championship in Winnipeg. The season culminated in December at the NORCECA Zone Olympic Qualifier in Mexico where they fell one match short of Olympic qualification, losing to the world No3 ranked team Cuba in the tournament’s final match.

A new era for the team began in 2009 in several ways. They hired a new coach in Arnd Ludwig (aka “Lupo”) to lead them through the next Olympic cycle to 2012. A new group of young, motivated athletes also joined the programme, complementing the veteran players and raising hopes of bringing the team to new levels of performance within the NORCECA Zone and world competitions.

In 2009 Canada successfully achieved their goal of qualifying for the 2010 FIVB Women’s World Championship at the final NORCECA Qualifier in Mexico in August. The main focus of the team will be to perform well at the World Championship and to finish in the top 16. The team will also use this championship as a stepping stone towards achieving their ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2012 summer Olympic Games in London.